National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 6
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice Questions. 1. The following questions should be answered using Chart 12354TR, Long Island Sound - Eastern Part, and the supporting publications. Your vessel has a draft of 12 feet (3.6 meters) Your height of eye is 16 feet (4.8 meters) Gyro error is 2 E Variation is 14 W "Per standard magnetic compass" is abbreviated "psc" Per gyrocompass is abbreviated pgc DEVIATION TABLE Magnetic Heading Deviation 000 0 030 1 W 060 2 W 090 4 W 120 2 W 150 1 W 180 1 E 210 2 E 240 3 E 270 3 E 300 2 E 330 1 E You are on course 082 T, and the engines are turning for 8 knots. At 0352, you take the following bearings: Stratford Point Light 016 pgc Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light 137 pgc What is your 0352 position? o (A) LAT 41 05.3'N, LONG 73 07.5'W o (B) LAT 41 05.0'N, LONG 73 08.0'W o (C) LAT 41 05.4'N, LONG 73 07.7'W (D) LAT 41 05.2'N, LONG 73 07.8'W Page 2 of 6
2. If the visibility is 11 miles, what is the earliest time you can expect to see New Haven Light? o (A) The light is visible at 0352. o (B) You will not sight the light. o (C) 0414 (D) 0443 3. While on a heading of 082 T, you sight Middle Ground Light in line with Old Field Point Light bearing 206 per standard magnetic compass. From this you can determine the. o (A) deviation is 3.5 E for a bearing of 206 per standard magnetic compass o (B) variation o (C) compass error is 17.5 E (D) deviation table is correct for that heading 4. The maximum ebb current at a location 4.3 miles south of Stratford Point will occur at 0413. The predicted current will be 1.0 knot at 075. What will be your course made good if you steer 082 T at 8 knots? o (A) 083 T (B) 081 T o (C) 087 T o (D) 085 T 5. Brandford Reef Light has which characteristic? o (A) Flashing red every 4 seconds (B) Flashing white every 6 seconds o (C) Flashing yellow every 4 seconds o (D) Flashing red every 3 seconds Page 3 of 6
6. At 0415, you take the following bearings: Stratford Point Light 329.5 pgc Middle Ground Light 223.5 pgc Old Field Point Light 199.5 pgc Which statement is TRUE? (A) You are to the right of your intended track line. o (B) The current's drift is greater than predicted. o (C) The course made good since 0352 is 081 T. o (D) Your fathometer reads about 76 fathoms. If choice A is selected set score to 1. 7. If you change course at 0420, what is the course to make good to leave Twenty Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy abeam to port at 1 mile? o (A) 086 T o (B) 082 T o (C) 079 T (D) 084 T 8. At 0430, you take the following bearings: Stratford Point Light bearing 307 pgc Middle Ground Light bearing 239 pgc What is your 0430 position? o (A) LAT 41 05.0'N, LONG 73 01.1'W (B) LAT 41 05.8'N, LONG 73 00.8'W o (C) LAT 41 05.5'N, LONG 72 59.7'W o (D) LAT 41 08.9'N, LONG 73 00.0'W 9. From your 0430 position, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position where Twenty-eight foot Shoal lighted buoy "TE" is abeam to port at 1 mile? (A) 101.5 o (B) 082.5 o (C) 098.0 o (D) 086.0 If choice A is selected set score to 1. Page 4 of 6
10. By 0430, the wind has increased, and the visibility cleared due to passage of a front. You estimate 3 leeway due to NW'ly winds. What is the course per gyrocompass to pass 1.2 miles due south of Twenty-eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE"? (A) 080 o (B) 090 o (C) 086 o (D) 083 If choice A is selected set score to 1. 11. At 0430, you change course and speed to make good 090 T at 10 knots. At 0433, you slow due to an engineering casualty and estimate you are making good 5.5 knots. At what time will Branford Reef Light bear 000 T? o (A) 0624 (B) 0609 o (C) 0620 o (D) 0601 12. According to the Coastwise Distance Tables, what is the approximate distance to New Bedford, MA, from your 0530 DR position, if your 0352 position was 7 miles from Bridgeport, CT (LAT 41 10.3'N, LONG 73 10.8'W)? o (A) 77 miles o (B) 91 miles (C) 104 miles o (D) 115 miles If choice C is selected set score to 1. 13. At 0550, engineering repairs are complete and speed is increased to 9.6 knots. At 0630, Falkner Island Light bears 023 pgc and Horton Point Light bears 097 pgc. From your 0630 fix you steer to make good a course of 086 T while turning for 9.6 knots. At 0700, Falkner Island Light bears 336.0 pgc and Horton Point Light bears 105.5 pgc. The radar range to the south tip of Falkner Island is 5.7 miles. Which statement is TRUE? o (A) Your course made good from 0630 to 0700 was 082 T. (B) You are making good your intended speed. o (C) The current from 0630 to 0700 was 279 T at 0.6 knot. o (D) The speed made good from 0630 to 0700 was 10.1 knots. Page 5 of 6
14. Which describes the south shore of Long Island Sound from Horton Point to Orient Point? o (A) Low and marshy o (B) Marked by sandy beaches and wooded uplands (C) Bluff and rocky o (D) Bound by gradual shoaling If choice C is selected set score to 1. 15. If visibility permits, at what range will Orient Point Light break the horizon? o (A) 9.3 miles o (B) 10.8 miles (C) 13.9 miles o (D) 17.0 miles If choice C is selected set score to 1. Page 6 of 6